usmle step 1 scores

According to my limited knowledge, all of what you say is correct.

definitely would agree... im not sure which programs use cutoffs and where they are. one school in the midwest separates into 3 categories... <210, 210-240, 240+. <210 applicants are considered, but are invited only if there is something extraordinary about their app (like playing pro soccer). The 240+ group almost always gets interviews, and the middle group is mixed depending on other factors. I imagine other schools use something like this model... however, i think the cutoff for interviews (if they exist) is probably much lower than you think, like around 200 or 210. A 240+ is a solid score... but I think the novelty factor of a 260+ might help get interviews at difficult programs.

I would agree....this year, a 230+ score will get you some interviews, but a LOT of rejections....I would think that 240+ willl give you a better shot. I would study your nuts off for step 1

Just to reiterate what I've said on other posts, I had a 220, applied to 45 programs, and have received 23 invites to date (including HSS, Brown, and Columbia as a nonrotator)... I repeat, if you have an otherwise strong application (i.e. good grades - AOA def helps, some research, good step 2 if available) a 220 is almost no issue whatsoever. The "absolute 230 cutoff" is a myth... it is a surmountable hurdle. A sidenote... a very strong LOR, even from your average orthopod, can get you interviews BY ITSELF... this has been mentioned to me at 3 separate interviews.

There's also often debate about whether to take Step 2 early or not when your step 1 is <230. I would strongly suggest this. I studied for 2 weeks solid using only QBank, finished approx. 2/3 of the questions, and found the test much easier than Step 1... my score jumped more than 20 points. As long as you take it seriously, I think it is likely to help.

Dr. Hibbert, did you forget to mention that you go to a top 10 ranked medical school or that your letters were from big wigs in the business? There are many factors other than the 230/AOA that land you 23 interviews......

I go to a ranked "primary care" medical school. My letters were not from "big wigs"... in fact, while I hold tremendous respect for everyone who wrote me letters (and would argue that they ARE some of the best), none of them have much more than regional name recognition... no major research backgrounds, no national positions in academies/societies, no procedures/implants named after them, etc.

In fact, you bring up a good point... having relied almost entirely on this biased forum, I was convinced entering this interview season (pre-Step 2 score) that I was on the losing end of average (based on the Match Statistics document), and would struggle for my 10 interviews... I thought 220 was going to hurt me with "cutoffs". I don't think it has.

Anyway, my point is that if you are sub-230 entering fourth year, you can work your butt off on SubI's, keep a smile on your face, get strong letters, and set aside time for Step 2, and suddenly a below mean application becomes a strong one.

As an aside, there are no guarantees... I know of a few guys with stronger initial stats than mine that, were I a chairman, I would have loved to have in my program, yet they haven't been quite as lucky... who knows...

i think that pretty much sums it up... its monkeys throwing darts and nothing more.